Drinking spree cop held for shooting his friend

A Cape Town police constable has been arrested after allegedly shooting dead a friend who, investigators say, refused to go on a drinking spree with the man accused of his murder.

Constable Mkutazi Nobomabo (24) briefly appeared in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Monday and is being held at Pollsmoor Prison pending his bail application.

Nobomabo allegedly shot 23-year-old Sakhiwe Njokweni dead in his Nyanga back yard shack on the night of July 14.

The shooting allegedly happened after Njokweni returned home to sleep and refused to return to a local shebeen to carry on drinking with the accused.

Regulars at the shebeen said they did not notice the two men fighting that night, but claimed that Nobomabo was “very drunk”.

“He was bullying everybody and people were scared of him because we could see he had a firearm,” said one regular, Lungisa Jojo.

Police say Nobomabo followed Njokweni home and an altercation ensued.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said it appeared Nobomabo had wanted Njokweni to keep drinking.

Nobomabo allegedly shot Njokweni when he refused.

An internal disciplinary inquiry into the matter had been launched, said Traut.

Moses Dlamini, Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson, said a case of defeating the ends of justice had been opened against the Community Service Centre commander at the Nyanga Police Station.

He was accused of being drunk on duty and failing to assist the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in detaining the suspect.

The accused is expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court tomorrow for a bail application.

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